Muhammad Ali's 'Rumble in the Jungle' belt sells for $6.18M US at auction
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay wins bidding war for 1974 championship belt
Muhammad Ali's championship belt from his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight title fight was sold at auction on Sunday for $6.18 million US.
The winner of the heated competition for the belt was Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, according to Heritage Auctions in Dallas.
In a tweet Sunday, Irsay confirmed he acquired the belt for his collection of rock music, American history and pop culture memorabilia that is currently touring the country.
The belt will be displayed on Aug. 2 at Chicago's Navy Pier and on Sept. 9 in Indianapolis.
"Proud to be the steward!" Irsay tweeted.
BREAKING—-Muhammad Ali’s<br>championship belt from 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ when he employed his rope-a-dope and defeated George Foreman—-just added to <a href="https://twitter.com/IrsayCollection?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IrsayCollection</a> Just in time for the Aug. 2 show at Chicago’s Navy Pier (and Sept. 9 at Indy). Proud to be the steward!🙏 <a href="https://t.co/REJOGV1Cwq">pic.twitter.com/REJOGV1Cwq</a>
—@JimIrsay"After several hours of watching two bidders go back and forth over this belt, this proved to be a battle worthy of the Rumble itself," Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports auctions, said in a statement.
The 1974 fight was one of boxing's most memorable moments. Ali stopped the fearsome George Foreman to recapture the heavyweight title in the African nation of Zaire. Ali won the fight in a knockout in the eighth round.
